Does anybody remember the property ads by Roy Brooks, the refreshingly honest London estate agent of the 1960’s?
His weekly advertisements in the Sunday Times and Observer became must-reads, predominately for their refreshing honesty in a profession not known, then as now, for its candour.
An example
Wanted: Someone with taste, means and a stomach strong enough to buy this erstwhile house of ill-repute in Pimlico. It is untouched by the 20th century as far as conveniences for even the basic human decencies are concerned. Although it reeks of damp or worse, the plaster is coming off the walls and daylight peeps through a hole in the roof, it is still habitable judging by the bed of rags, fag ends and empty bottles in one corner. Plenty of scope for the socially aspiring to express their decorative taste and get their abode in The Glossy, and nothing to stop them putting Westminster on their notepaper. Comprises 10 rather unpleasant rooms with slimy back yard
Who could resist indeed?